A gokfobation



March 19, 1929.

w. STUEBING, JR

LIFTING TRUCK Filed Jan. 21, 1926 l lmmll" 2 Sheets-Sheet '1 anvvntazMarch 19, 1929. w, 'sTu m JR- 1,706,194

LIF'TING TRUCK Filed Jan. 21, 1926 2 Shana-Sheet 2 awumbo'c PatentedMar. 19, 1929.

UNITED STATES mane PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM'STUEBING, JR., OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ESEJGNOE- TO THESTUEBING-COWAN COMPANY OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, A CORPORATION 01? OHIO.

LIFTING TRUCK.

' 7 Application filed January a1, 1926.

The present invention relates to lifting trucks of the type in which thesteering and draft handle or tongue is operative to lift the load.

r'imong the objects to which the invention is addressed is to provide animproved lifting truck whereof the steering tongue may be operated tolift the load when said tongue is swung in a plane other than that ofthe longitudinal center line of the truck. Lifting trucks of this classare commonly designated as side-lift or anglelift trucks, and possessthe advantage of being operable to lift the load in relatively limitedspaces wherein it is diflicult or impossible to operate the liftingmechanism by swinging the tongue in the plane of the longitudinal centerline of the truck.

. In all practical liftingtrucks the loadbearing and lifting frame orplatform is arranged to move upwardly in a direction parallel to thevertical plane of the longitudinal center-line of the truck, although inmany instance the lifting platform is also arranged to move forward orbackward as it rises vertically. In lifting trucks of thestraight-forward lift type, therefore, the operating tongue (usually thesteering-tongue) has ordinarily been arranged to swing in the 0 sameplace of motion as that of the lifting platform. This permitted thenecessary connections between the lifting platform and the tongue to besimple and. direct and to be moved in one general direction during thelifting operation, as maybe observed for example in United StatesLetters Patent No. 1,104,533to C. E. M. Miller, patented July 21, 191 i,No. 1,257,650 to W. Stuebing, Jr, patented February 26, 1918, and No.1,373,069 to Hennessy, patented Mar. 29, 1921.

In side-lift trucks, however since the lifting-tongue must be operableas such in numerous planes other than the vertical plane muted intomotion in or parallel to the plane of the trucks longitudinal centerline to raise the elevating platform rcgardlesscf whether the tongue isswung on the center line or to either side thereof. In all,orsubstantially all, types of practical side-lift "frame n 1 disconnected.s view in side elevation, showing Serial No. 82,676.

trucks in cemmcrcialv use prior to the present invention the provisionof such joint has involved either mechanical complication and multipliciy of parts, or else defects or opive limitations of one sort or another,all of which undesirable defects or limitations the present invention iscalculated to obviate.

in the present invention simplicity of structure has been attainedthrough the pro *ision of direct connection between the steering tongueand the elevating frame, the specific embodiment illustrated having thesteering tongue provided with a unitary rigid lifting member extendingbetween the steering tongue and elevating frame and capableof-maintaining its ope "ative relationship to lift the frame regardlessof movements of the steering tongue to various steering positions, thearrangement of the parts being such that as the steering tongue is swunglaterally to different steering positions, the lifting member,positively and permanently connected, with the steering tongue, swingswith it and assumes different angular positions relative to theelevating frame corresponding to the angular steering positions of thetongue. Such an arrangement not only simplifies side-lift truckconstruction, but promotes other advantages, as, for example, thepossibility of having the connecting joint or point previously mentionedoccupy any mechanically convenient position relative to the other partsof the structure, the position of this point not necessarily being closeto the vertical axis of the truclrs steering post as is the case in manystructures shown 1n existing patents).

'll'hese features in combination with others hereinafter described andclaimed differentiate the present invention from the trucks hitherto inuse, and may be better understood from a consideration of a particularillustrative embodimentthereof hereinafter de scribed Wltll reference tothe accompanying ings, in which:

F1 is a plan view of a lifting truck embodving the invention, showingthe elevating s lmvered position and the lifting 11 ill po tion toelevate theload is a central. sectional view of the same, but showi thelifting mechanism from the load;

Fig. the eleiating frame in its uppermost position, locked in uppermostposition and with he lifting mechanism disconnected therefrom.

Tl e truck shown for the purposes of illustrating the invention has amainframe and a load. supporting elevating frame .6. A steering head 7is rotatably mounted in a transverse yoke 8 forming a part of the mainframe and to which yoke the side bars 9 of the main frame are rigidlyconnected as by means of bolts 10 as best shown in Figs. 1

and 2. The elevating frame is supported on the main frame by means ofsimilar links 11 and 12 pivotally connected to the main frame at thefront and rear ends thereof.

For the purpose of permitting the lifting and lifted elements to assumevarious different angular positions relative to each other, an arcnateangular member l 'l is secured to the elevating frame in position to beengaged .by a cooperating tension member or nook 15 pivoted at 16 to thesteering handle, said members being so formed that they may read ily beinterengaged and disengaged, one member occupying a certain normalposition relative to the other when the steering tongue is in itscentral straight-forward position, and one of said members beingextended laterally from said normal position a substantial distance, i.e. a distance sufficient to permit interengagement of said members whensaid steering handle is in different steering positions to permit sideor angle lift.

Normally the: hook 15 is held in elevated position by means of a spring17 and is connected with the arcuate member lei by pres- I sure of thefoot upon a pedal projection 18 shown in Fig. l.

The member 14 may well be so formed that the center of the arcuate pathalong which the members lei and 15 may connect, lies to i the rear ofthe vertical axis of the steering head 7 when the elevating frame is inlowered position. The hook 15 may be formed with its engaging faceeither straight laterally of thetruck, or concave, but if concave, itshould be formed on a slightly greater arethan that of the arcuatemember i l to accommodate the $9 this member relatnre to the handle.

Any suitable lock may be provided for holdin the elevating frame in itsuppermost position.

shown, a locking hook 20 is pivotally mounted on the hook 8, andpositioned toengage a corrciuionding hook of the elevating frame. Thishook is normally urged into locking position by means of a spring 23,but may be released by pressure on the forwardly extcndii k lalprojection 21 forming part of the locking member.

It will be understood that the invention may be variously modifier. andembodied within the scope of the subjoined rlaims.

What i claim is: r

1. A lifting truck conmrising. in combination, a main frame hav ng asnivelled steering head, an elevating frame mounted on the mainframe andmovable upv-rardlv relative thereto, a vertically s ringing steeringlever, a direct connecti 11 between the steering lever and elevatingi'rame comprising interengageable members carried respectively by thesteering lever and elevating frame, one of which extends laterally asubstantial distance from its position of engagement with the other whenthe steering lever is in cen position and permitting interengagement indifferent steering positions of the handle.

2. A lifting truck comprising, in combination, a main frame having aswivelled steering head, an elevating frame mounted on the main frameand movable upwardly relative thereto, a Vertically swinging steeringlever, a direct connection between the steering lever and elevatingframe comprising interenga ing hook members, one of which has an arcuateengaging portion substantially as and for the purpose described. 7 Alifting truck comprising, in combination, a main frame having aswivelled steering head, an elevating frame mounted on the main frameand movable upwardly relative thereto. a vertically swinging steeringlever, an arcuate hook men'iber secured to the elovating frame, and ahook member pivoted to the steering lever to swing vertically in theplane of movement of the steering lever and engageable with anddisengageable from the arcuate hook member in arious steeringpositions'. v

4. A lifting truck comprising", in combination, a main frame having aswivclled steering head, an elevating frame mounted on the main frameand ll'lOVllJlQ upwardly relative thereto, a vertically swingingsteering lever, a member carried by the ele ating frame and extendinglaterally a substantial distance, a member carried by the steeringhandle and engageable with and disengage- V able from different portionsof said laterally extending member in various steering positions to liftthe elevating frame.

5. A lifting truck comprising, in combination, a main frame having aswivellcd steering head, an elevating frame mounted on the main frameand movable upwardly relative thereto, a veiauallv swinging steeringlever, a member presenting a hook extending till lll)

transversely of the elevating frame 011 an arc the center of which liesrearwardly of the axis of the swlvelled head, and means for connectingthe handle to the arcuate hook substantially as and for the purposedescribed.

GJA lifting truck comprising in combination a main frame having aswivelled steering head, an elevating frame mounted on the main frameand movable upwardly relative thereto, a vertically swinging steeringlever, an arcuate hook member secured to the elevating frame in suchposition that the center of the arc thereof lies rearwardly of the axisof the swivelled steering head, and a hook member pivoted to thesteering lever to swing vertically and engageable with the arcuate hookmember in various steering, positions to 11ft the elevating frame.

7 A lifting truck comprising in combination a main frame, an elevatingframe, a

steering lever, a hook extending transversely of the elevating frame onan arc whose center lies forward of the hook, and means connecting thesteering lever to the hook to lift the elevating frame.

8; A lifting truck comprising, in combina tion, a main frame having aswivelled steering head, an elevating framehaving a-surface extending"laterally a substantial distance, a vertically swinging steering lever,a hook .pivotally carried by the steering lever and engageable with theelevating frame at different points of said surface to lift saidelevating frame.

9. A lifting truck, as defined in claim 2, comprising a spring tendingto disengage the hook members.

10. A lifting truck, as defined in claim 2,

mounted thereon and arranged to be upwardable movable relativelythereto, a steerng swivel mounted upon said main frame, a steeringtongue plvotally mounted upon said steering swivel and provided witharearwardly extending llftlllg member ar-' ranged to be moved by saidsteering tongue to raise said elevating frame, means rigidly mountedupon said elevating frame provided with surface extending a substantialdistance to the right and left of the longitudinal center-line of saidelevating frame and so positioned as to be in the operative path of thefree end of said lifting member when the latter is operated to raisesaid elevating frame whether said lifting member be operated to theright or left of said center line, whereby said lifting member mayengage said surface at various points to raise said elevating frame whensaid steering tongue is operated to the right or left of its straightfori ward position.

12. A'lifting truck comprising, in combi- .nation, a main frame, anelevating frame mounted thereon and arranged to be longitudinally andupwardly movable relative thereto, a steering swivel mounted upon saidmain frame, a steering tongue pivotally mounted upon said steeringswivel, a lifting member operatively connected to said steering tongueto raisesaid elevating frame, said elevating frame being provided withsurface extending a substantial distance to the right and left from itslongitudinal center line and so positioned as to interpose differentportions of said surface in the operative paths of said lifting memberin accordance with the positions wherein said tongue is operated to theright or left of the longitudinal center line of the truck.

13. A lifting truck comprising in combination a main frame havingsupporting and steering wheels, a steering tongue provided vith apivotal connection to said steering wheels permitting said tongue to beswung in a. vertical plane and having a rearwardly extending liftingmember, an elevating frame upwardly movable relatively to said mainframe and having a lifting contact surface positioned to form a pivotalconnection wit-h the free end of said lifting member, one of saidpivotal connections being free to move in an arcuate path'on either sideof the longitudinal center line of the truck as said steering tongue isturned laterally to various steering positions, and means, independentof said lifting member, to lock said elevating frame in raised position.

14. A lifting truck comprising in combination a main frame havingsupporting wheels and a steering wheel mounted to turn on a verticalaxis, a steering tongue having a point of connection with said steeringwheel and provided with a rearwardly-extending lift ing member, anelevating frame upwardly movable relatively to said main frame andhaving a contact surface positioned to afford a point of connection withthe free end of said lifting member, one of said points of connectionbeing movable a substantial distance in a horizontal arcuate pathinaccordance with lateral movements of said steering tongue as the latteris turned to various steering positions whereby the parts may maintainoperative lifting relationship when said tongue is in said variouspositions, and means independent of said lift-ing member to lock saidelevating frame in its elevated position.

15. A lifting truck comprising in combina-- tion a main frame havingsupporting wheels and a steering wheel mounted to turn on a verticalaxis, a steering tongue pivotally con- I nected to said steering wheeland provided with a rearwardly-extending lifting member, an elevatingframe upwardly movable relatively to said main frame and having asurface to making lifting contact with the free,

end of said lifting member, said lifting member being arranged to beturned horizontally by and with said steering tongue a substantialdistai'iee without moving out of operative lifting position relative tosaid surface whereby said elevating frame may be lifted through saidtongue when the latter occupies various steering positions substantiallyto one side .of its straight forward position.

16. A lifting truck comprisingin combination s )aced en Jortim wheels anelevating frame upwardly movable relatively thereto, a draughttonguemounted to pivot Vertically and horizontally relatively to said frameand provided With a rigid lifting member movable by and with said tongueto raise said'frame relatively to said wheels, and an element integralwith said framefor cooperative lifting contaee with the free end of saidrigid lifting member, the parts being shaped and positioned to permitsaid tongue to be operated at substantial distances to one side of itsstraight forward position to lift said frame without disengagement ofsaid lifting memher from said element.

17. A lifting truck comprising, in combination, a main frame havingsupporting and steering wheels, an elevating frame mounted thereon forupward movement relatively thereto, elevating and steering meansincluding a tongue connected to said steering wheels to guide the same,pivoted to be swung vertically relatively thereto and provided with alifting member having a rearwardly-extending free end, means integra-ilwith said elevating frame shaped and positioned to be engageable by saidfree end of said lifting member when said tongue is swung vertically ina forward direction to raise said elevating plat form, said free end andsaid last-named means bemg relatively shaped and positloned to permitsaid lifting member to describe circularmovement relative to saidlast-named means without breaking contact therewith as 831d tongue isswung laterally to varlous steering positions, and means independent ofsaid member for holding said elevating frame in elevated position.

I In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification thisseventeenth day of December, 1925.

WILLIAM STUEBING, JR.

